Hydrangea plant named ‘HIICE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘HIICE’, characterized by its upright and broadly outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; strong and sturdy stems; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large and dense inflorescences with white-colored sterile flowers; and good post-production longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HIICE’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application, Hi Breeding B.V. of De Lier, The Netherlands on Nov. 15, 2021, application number 2021/2935. Foreign priority is not claimed to this European Plant Breeder's Rights application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HIICE’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new sturdy and strong Hydrangea plants with attractive inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination on Apr. 6, 2016 of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 1675, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 1678, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands on Apr. 12, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by terminal vegetative cuttings since Jul. 12, 2018 in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HIICE’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HIICE’ as anew and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and broadly outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Strong and sturdy stems.     -   5. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   6. Freely flowering habit.     -   7. Large and dense inflorescences with white-colored sterile         flowers.     -   8. Good post-production longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than stems         of plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Sepals of sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are         white in color whereas sepals of sterile flowers of plants of         the female parent selection are yellowish white in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are not as vigorous as plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than stems         of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Schneeball’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Schneeball’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are not as vigorous as plants of         ‘Schneeball’.     -   2. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than stems         of plants of ‘Schneeball’.     -   3. Sepals of sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are         white in color whereas sepals of sterile flowers of plants of         ‘Schneeball’ are yellowish white in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Horklewi’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Horklewi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Stems of plants of the new Hydrangea are sturdier than stems         of plants of ‘Horklewi’.     -   2. Sepals of sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are         white in color whereas sepals of sterile flowers of plants of         ‘Horklewi’ are yellowish white in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HIICE’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘HIICE’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘HIICE’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late winter and early spring in 14-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 4,000 lux. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched one time and were 18 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. As with white-colored flowers, plants of the new Hydrangea are not treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the flower color.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HIICE’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, patent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 1675, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, patent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 1678, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About one             month at temperatures about 19° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, broadly outwardly spreading             and mounding plant habit; flattened globular in overall             shape; strong and sturdy stems; moderately vigorous growth             habit and moderate growth rate; about six months from             propagation are required to produce small finished flowering             plants.         -   Plant height.—About 32.3 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 52.3 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about nine             lateral branches per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development.         -   Length.—About 22.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4.7 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Aspect.—About 30° from vertical.         -   Texture, developing.—Moderately pubescent.         -   Texture, developed.—Smooth, glabrous; becoming woody with             subsequent development.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A and at the nodes, tinged             with close to 183A.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 146A and at the nodes,             strongly tinged with close to a blend of N186C and 200B;             when woody, close to 199A, 199B and N199D.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Medium density. Length: About 0.75 mm.             Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Color: Close to a blend of 183A and             200B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 12.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 9.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly elliptic to broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Broadly apiculate.         -   Base.—Short attenuate to obtuse.         -   Margin.—Coarsely crenate-serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Slightly rugose, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Moderately rugose; small tufts of             pubescence at vein axils.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Darker than a blend of 147A             and N189A; venation, close to 146B. Fully developed leaves,             lower surface: Close to NN137D; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm to             5 mm. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             146B; towards the margins, close to 144A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy rotate sterile flowers and             small, inconspicuous rotate fertile flowers arranged on             mophead-type terminal panicles; panicles flattened globular             in shape; sterile flowers face upright to outwardly and             fertile flowers mostly upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—In the garden, plants flower             continuously from the late spring to late summer in The             Netherlands; flower dormancy can be broken with a cold             storage treatment.         -   Flower longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; sterile             flowers maintain good substance for about six weeks on the             plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last for             a few days on the plant, fertile flowers not persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 120             sterile flowers per panicle and about 55 fertile flowers per             panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 8 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 15.9 cm.         -   Panicle peduncles.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Primary peduncles, mostly             erect; lateral peduncles, about 50° from primary peduncle             axis. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Close to 143A; at             the nodes, slightly tinged with close to 183C.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About             9 mm. Shape: Irregular and broadly cup-shaped. Color: Close             to 145B to 145C.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Shape: Globular. Color: Close to a blend of 155C and             157D and 150D.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3.3 cm to 5 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 0.9 cm to 2.4 cm.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 9 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 4.5 mm.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four,             occasionally three or five, in a single whorl. Length: About             3.5 mm. Width: About 2.25 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to             NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development.             When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to             NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five,             occasionally six, in a single whorl. Length: About 4 mm.             Width: About 2.75 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; color does             not change with subsequent development. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155D; color does not             change with subsequent development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically             four, or occasionally two or three, in a single whorl;             strongly imbricate. Length: About 2.1 cm to 2.8 cm. Width:             About 2.5 cm to 4.2 cm. Shape: Reniform to broadly reniform,             concave. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate to truncate. Margin:             Entire; coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Slightly rugose, glabrous; matte. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to NN155B. When opening, lower             surface: Close to NN155C. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to lighter than NN155D; with subsequent             development, color becoming closer to a blend of 150D and             155A.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 1.25 mm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 157D; color does not change             with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 157D; color does not change with             subsequent development.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 40°             from main peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Densely             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to NN155D.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 0.5 mm. Diameter:             About 0.1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 10°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; matte.             Color: Close to NN155C.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: Eight. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color:             Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther             length: About 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Two, or occasionally, three. Pistil             length: About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma             color: Close to 155B. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:             Close to 155B to 155C. Ovary color: Close to 155C.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: Ten. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament color:             Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Broadly oblong. Anther             length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 155D. Pollen             amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: Two, or occasionally, three. Pistil             length: About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma             color: Close to 155B. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:             Close to 155B to 155C. Ovary color: Close to 155C.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed development has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been     observed to be tolerant to Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea). To date,     plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant     to pests and other pathogens common to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HIICE’ as illustrated and described. 